Pitchfork

Michigan spazz-rockers Thunderbirds Are Now! have seemed a bit Thunderbirds Were Then? lately, no? But fret not, Thunderbirds faithful: the band is indeed extant and well. It's just taking a wee lil' break while its members pursue some extracurriculars.

One such pursuit is Friendly Foes (not to be confused with the latest Menomena album), the self-described "POWER TRIO" led by TAN! singer/guitarist Ryan Allen. Originally an Allen solo venture, the expanded combo is rounded out by bassist Lizzie Whitmann (also of Motor City indie-poppers Kiddo) and drummer Brad Elliott.

According to the act's MySpace, we can look forward to an album from Friendly Foes "before all the glaciers in the world melt," and a handful of Foes shows (hopefully) long before the Rocky Mountains become beachfront property.

While Allen keeps busy with Friendly Foes, his TAN! bandmates Matt Rickle and Julian Wettlin have been active with their frequent side-thing Javelins. The Detroit trio will release an album called Heavy Meadows later this year, and they have a fair share of shows brewing as well.

Finally, Thunderbirds will take a break from their break to play a show at Ann Arbor, Michigan's Blind Pig January 24. Javelins are also on the bill that night.

Friendly shows:

01-11 Hamtramck, MI - The Belmont
01-17 Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom *
02-01 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
02-02 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
02-09 Berkley, MI - Berkley Front

* with the Walkmen, White Rabbits

Javelins:

01-17 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig #
01-19 Hamtramck, MI - WebVomit Party @ Belmont
01-24 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig #^
01-31 Lansing, MI - Mac's Bar #
02-01 Chicago, IL - Ronny's
02-26 Detroit, MI - Scrummage University %

# with Child Bite
^ with Thunderbirds Are Now!
% with Capillary Action, PWRFL POWER